The 2026 U.S.A. – Iran War – The Knowledge Base

I. Overview

On February 28 2026, the Middle East saw its most serious military escalation in years as the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes inside Iran and Iran responded with widespread attacks across the region.

President Donald Trump announced that the United States had commenced “major combat operations” against Iran in what he described as a strategic effort to eliminate threats posed by Iran’s nuclear program, missile capabilities, and regional influence.

Israel joined the campaign, with air strikes targeting key Iranian leadership and military infrastructure in Tehran and other cities, in an action Israeli officials have framed as a necessary response to perceived existential threats.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded swiftly with missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, including attacks against U.S. military bases and sites hosting U.S. assets in Gulf Arab states. Iranian authorities declared that all U.S. and Israeli assets in the region were legitimate targets, removing previous “red lines.”

II. Immediate Events of February 28 2026

The U.S.-Israel Strikes

U.S. and Israeli forces conducted air and missile strikes against Iranian targets in Tehran and other cities.
These strikes were part of a mission codenamed “Operation Epic Fury,” described by the Trump administration as a major combat offensive aimed at degrading Iran’s missile systems and naval capabilities.
Trump publicly warned that American casualties were a distinct possibility, framing the action as a morally justified and necessary choice to protect American and allied security.

Iran’s Retaliation

Iran responded with simultaneous missile attacks on U.S. bases and assets across multiple Gulf Arab states, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
Iran also launched strikes against Israeli territory and military infrastructure, marking the conflict as multidirectional and regional in scope.
Iranian officials stated that the war will continue “relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated,” indicating that Tehran views this as an existential struggle.

Region in Turmoil

These events triggered emergency actions across the Middle East:

Airspace closures and security alerts in multiple countries.
Heightened defensive postures by U.S. and allied forces.
Mobilization of missiles and air defenses in Israel and Arab states.

The scope and intensity is greater than previous crises, due to the scale of strikes and the immediate cross‑regional retaliation.

III. How We Got Here – Background Context

To understand today’s rupture into outright war, it’s essential to examine recent history and root causes.

Decades of Tension

U.S.–Iran relations have been hostile since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, when Iran’s pro‑American monarchy was overthrown, leading to the U.S. embassy hostage crisis and enduring mistrust. Over the decades:

The U.S. has imposed sanctions and punitive measures against Iran for its support of militant groups, missile programs, and regional influence.
Iran has backed armed groups such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and militias in Iraq and Syria that have intermittently clashed with U.S. interests.

Nuclear Negotiations and Failures

A key moment was the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a deal under which Iran agreed to curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. After the U.S. withdrew from the deal in 2018, Iran began enriching uranium at higher levels — increasing Western fears of a potential path to a nuclear weapon. This set the stage for renewed tensions.

Previous Military Engagements

In June 2025, Israel and Iran fought a brief but intense war, with U.S. support to Israel. The conflict ended in a ceasefire in June 2025, mediated by the United States and Qatar. But no lasting peace was achieved, and tensions remained high.

Breakdown of Diplomacy

Despite multiple rounds of negotiations in early 2026 – including talks in Geneva – no diplomatic breakthrough was reached. Earlier this week (Feb 26), Iranian and American officials held last‑ditch talks mediated by Oman, but with no deal to prevent escalation.

Disagreements centered on Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and the enforcement of any agreement, leaving unresolved differences while U.S. military pressure increased.

IV. The Strategic Motives and Goals of Each Side

The United States

Official Objectives

According to Trump administration statements:

Destroy Iran’s missile capabilities and naval forces.
Prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Diminish Tehran’s regional influence through crippling strikes on leadership and military centers.

Political Dimensions

Trump also emphasized:

Encouraging regime change in Iran — urging the Iranian people to rise up once the military operations conclude.

Iran

Iran’s leadership faces a multi‑layered challenge:

Maintaining regime survival against internal unrest and external pressure.
Responding to attacks without fracturing domestic unity.
Signaling deterrence to both the U.S. and Israel.

Iran’s official position is that all U.S. and Israeli assets are legitimate targets — an escalation beyond previous strategies that aimed to manage confrontation carefully.

Iran’s retaliation is designed to:

Inflict material damage on U.S. forces and allies.
Demonstrate capability and resolve to domestic and regional audiences.
Compel rival powers to reconsider military approaches.

V. Regional and Global Repercussions

Uncertainty and Fear

Analysts are already warning that the situation is “highly unusual” and fragile, with risks of rapid escalation beyond the current hotspots, including:

Expansion of conflict through proxy groups such as Hezbollah or Houthi forces.
Disruption of global trade, especially if shipping lanes like the Strait of Hormuz are threatened.

International Reactions

Today’s attacks have sparked diverse global responses:

Russia

Russia condemned the U.S. and Israeli strikes as “unprovoked acts of armed aggression,” accused Washington of using nuclear talks as a cover, and warned against further violence.

European Union

EU leaders called for “maximum restraint” and urged respect for international law and civilian protection.

Arab States

Some Gulf states condemned Iran’s missile attacks against their territories and urged diplomatic solutions, while also preparing defensive measures.

United Nations

UN officials warned of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis if hostilities continue unchecked, emphasizing that further violence should be prevented through political means.

VI. Humanitarian and Economic Impact

Human Toll

Already, civilian areas in Iranian cities have seen explosions and casualties. There’s grave concern about further civilian suffering, displacement, and loss of life if the conflict becomes prolonged and widespread.

International humanitarian groups are calling for adherence to rules of war, including protection of non‑combatants.

Economic Shockwaves

Some analysts warn that:

Oil markets could be destabilized, pushing energy prices higher.
Insurance costs and shipping delays could ripple through global trade if major sea routes are disrupted.

VII. What Happens Next? — Possible Trajectories

Given the dynamic nature of the conflict, multiple scenarios are possible:

1. Escalation Into Regional War

If attacks continue and involve more state and non‑state actors, the conflict could widen significantly.

2. Diplomatic Intervention

International initiatives (UN, mediators like Oman) could gain traction to impose a ceasefire or negotiated cessation.

3. Prolonged Low-Intensity Conflict

Even if major combat operations cease, proxy conflicts and tensions will likely persist.

VIII. Conclusion – A Defining Moment in US‑Iran Relations

The events of February 28 2026 mark a pivot from decades of indirect confrontation to direct warfare between the United States and Iran. These actions have transformed longstanding geopolitical tensions into active military conflict with global consequences.